Related Information

Email Updates

I-90 - Two-Way Transit and HOV Operations

Status

August 2015

DRIVER ALERT!: Eastbound I-90 will temporarily close to drivers between East Mercer Way and Bellevue Way for up to 20 minutes at a time from 11:59 p.m. to 4 a.m., on Aug 5 and 6 to allow crews to install two new sign structures.

Work inside the Mount Baker and Mercer Island tunnels continues, however, there will be no more weekend-long directional closures until October.

Crews shifted traffic to create a median workzone between the express lanes and eastbound I-90 near Island Crest Way. This will allow crews to convert the existing Island Crest Way express lanes ramp to an eastbound HOV off-ramp.

Find the latest information regarding closures on I-90 in King County on our construction update.

Overview

WSDOT and Sound Transit are adding high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to the outer roadways (existing general purpose lanes) in both directions of I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue. This collaboration is making vital improvements for traffic flow on I-90 while preparing the center roadway for Sound Transit's East Link light rail extension from Seattle to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond.

Why is WSDOT
working with Sound Transit on I-90?
WSDOT is collaborating with Sound Transit to make the best use of tax-payer transportation dollars by moving more people, more efficiently through one of the state's busiest rush-hour commutes.

I-90 includes two reversible express lanes between Seattle and Bellevue for buses, carpools and vanpools. In the morning, traffic in the express lanes are westbound; in the evening they go eastbound. Buses and high-occupancy vehicles traveling opposite the express lanes must use the outer roadway. With no HOV lanes in outer roadway at the start of this project, buses and carpools experienced routine, rush-hour delays, undermining the benefits of ride sharing.

WSDOT and Sound Transit are adding an HOV lane in both directions of the outer roadway and new direct-access ramps for transit and HOVs on Mercer Island and in Bellevue.

Upgrade I-90 tunnels fire and life safety systems in Seattle and Mercer Island.

The End Result

The project will improve on-time reliability and access for transit and HOVs on I-90. With new direct-access ramps, carpools, vanpools and buses will access the freeway directly to or from HOV lanes without merging through lanes of traffic. Traffic on the outer roadway will be smoother and safer for everyone.

The project also prepares the center roadway for Sound Transit's 14-mile East Link light rail extension from Seattle to Redmond.

Project Benefits

Safety: Reduces weaving and merging on I-90

Congestion Relief: Removes buses, carpools and vanpools from general purpose lanes, resulting in improved transit schedule reliability and shorter commute times for all drivers.

Improved transit reliability: Provides full-time HOV lanes in both directions for transit and carpools, making commutes by bus faster and more reliable.